H09642026 Regular Session

Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Fish and Game for fiscal year 2027.

APPROPRIATIONS -- DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME -- Relates to the appropriation to the Department of Fish and Game for fiscal year 2027.

APPROPRIATIONS DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME

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STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

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RS33844 / H0964 This appropriation to the Department of Fish and Game enhancements to the FY 2027 maintenance budget that includes funding for fisheries habitat projects; good neighbor authority projects; inflationary costs at fisheries; wolf depredation response; inflation at fisheries facilities; and IT hardware. This appropriation also includes language allowing for the reappropriation of dedicated and federal fund balances and directing the use of appropriation for wolf trapping.

FISCAL NOTE

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This appropriation provides an additional $14,178,500 to the maintenance appropriation provided to the Department of Fish and Game found in Senate Bill 1363. Table 1 shows enhancements to the budget found in the bill, of which the ongoing increase is $5,341,400, and there is $8,837,100 is onetime appropriations. Table 2 shows all the adjustments leading to the FY 2027 Total Appropriation. The total budget for the Department of Fish and Game is $161,517,000. Table 1. FTP Gen Ded Fed Total 1. Fisheries Habitat Projects 0.00 0 7,210,800 1,000,000 8,210,800 2. Good Neighbor Authority Projects 0.00 0 300,000 3,750,000 4,050,000 3. Fisheries Inflationary Costs 0.00 0 0 500,300 500,300 5. Wolf Depred Response and Control 0.00 0 200,000 0 200,000 6. Fisheries Facility Inflation 0.00 0 321,300 469,800 791,100 OITS Hardware 0.00 0 255,800 170,500 426,300 Budget Law Exemptions/Other Adjustments 0.00 0 0 0 0 FY 2027 Budget Enhancements 0.00 0 8,287,900 5,890,600 14,178,500 % Chg from FY 2027 Budge

BILL TEXT

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LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF IDAHO Sixty-eighth Legislature Second Regular Session - 2026 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES HOUSE BILL NO. 964 BY APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE AN ACT1 RELATING TO THE APPROPRIATION TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME; APPROPRI-2 ATING ADDITIONAL MONEYS TO THE DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND GAME FOR FISCAL3 YEAR 2027; PROVIDING REAPPROPRIATION AUTHORITY FOR DEDICATED FUNDS;4 PROVIDING REAPPROPRIATION AUTHORITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDS; DIRECTING THE5 USE OF APPROPRIATION; PROVIDING FOR CONDITIONS, LIMITATIONS, AND RE-6 STRICTIONS; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY AND PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE.7

Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Idaho:8

SECTION 1. In addition to any other appropriation provided by law,9 there is hereby appropriated to the Department of Fish and Game the follow-10 ing amounts to be expended according to the designated programs and expense11 classes from the listed funds for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30,12 2027:13 FOR14 FOR OPERATING15 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES16 OUTLAY TOTAL I. ADMINISTRATION:17 FROM:18 Fish and Game19 Fund20 $255,800 $255,800 Fish and Game (Federal)21 Fund22 170,500 170,500 TOTAL23 $426,300 $426,300 II. FISHERIES:24 FROM:25 Fish and Game26 Fund27 $46,000 $46,000 Fish and Game (Other)28 Fund29 7,486,100 7,486,100 Fish and Game (Federal)30 Fund31 1,970,100 1,970,100 TOTAL32 $9,502,200 $9,502,200

2 FOR1 FOR OPERATING2 CAPITAL EXPENDITURES3 OUTLAY TOTAL III. WILDLIFE:4 FROM:5 Fish and Game (Other)6 Fund7 $500,000 $500,000 Fish and Game (Federal)8 Fund9 3,750,000 3,750,000 TOTAL10 $4,250,000 $4,250,000 GRAND TOTAL11 $13,752,200 $426,300 $14,178,500

SECTION 2. REAPPROPRIATION AUTHORITY FOR DEDICATED FUNDS. There is12 hereby reappropriated to the Department of Fish and Game any unexpended and13 unencumbered balances appropriated or reappropriated to the Department14 of Fish and Game from dedicated funds for the Administration, Fisheries,15 Wildlife, and Communications programs for fiscal year 2026 to be used for16 nonrecurring expenditures for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30,17 2027. The Office of the State Controller shall confirm the reappropriation18 amount, by fund, expense class, and program, with the Legislative Services19 Office prior to processing the reappropriation authorized herein.20

SECTION 3. REAPPROPRIATION AUTHORITY FOR FEDERAL FUNDS. There is21 hereby reappropriated to the Department of Fish and Game any unexpended22 and unencumbered balances appropriated or reappropriated to the Depart-23 ment of Fish and Game from federal funds for the Administration, Fisheries,24 Wildlife, and Communications programs for fiscal year 2026 to be used for25 nonrecurring expenditures for the period July 1, 2026, through June 30,26 2027. The Office of the State Controller shall confirm the reappropriation27 amount, by fund, expense class, and program, with the Legislative Services28 Office prior to processing the reappropriation authorized herein.29

SECTION 4. USE OF APPROPRIATION. Notwithstanding any law to the con-30 trary, of the moneys appropriated in Section 1 of this act, $200,000 from31 the Fish and Game (Other) Fund shall be used to enhance wolf trapping to man-32 age wolf predation. The balance of the $200,000 not expended for this pur-33 pose shall revert to the fund. The Department of Fish and Game shall provide34 a report to the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee detailing the use of35 funds by June 30, 2027. The format and content of this report will be de-36 termined in consultation with the Budget and Policy Analysis Division of the37 Legislative Services Office.38

SECTION 5. CONDITIONS, LIMITATIONS, AND RESTRICTIONS. Appropriations39 made pursuant to this act are subject to the conditions, limitations, and re-40 strictions specified in this act.41

SECTION 6. An emergency existing therefor, which emergency is hereby1 declared to exist, this act shall be in full force and effect on and after2 July 1, 2026.3